Scout's Redemption

 

Not that he really needs it, but Scout has been busy lately redeeming himself.  For all his mischief and misconduct, his personality shines, especially when children are around.  Both he and Sophie love kids.  Sophie is very maternal and gentle, even with the smallest ones. 

Scout is a little more rambunctious, much to the delight of my young cousins, who are just the right age to enjoy his favorite games and to tolerate tumbles and dog kisses.

Their grandmother and I had a ring-side seat from the porch for the Olympics of Children and Dogs for several days this week.  The main event was tug-o-war.  The equipment was simple – a remnant of an old braided rug Scout had demolished last week.  The rope-like piece looked for all the world like a snake and had already given me several scares lying on the front porch, or in the grass in front of the porch.  It’s sort of a brownish/goldish color, just about the color of a rattlesnake and just about that size.  Just yesterday it almost gave a visiting friend a heart attack.  But it makes a grand toy for the dogs and their children.

Between rounds of games, both Sophie and Scout spent time begging to share the kids’ oreos, which are off limits because chocolate is bad for dogs.  The dogs believe that to be fake news, made up by their enemies.  I distracted them with their own treats, which are kept in a cabinet by the swing.  The kids think it’s funny that they know where the treat jar is and that they have to sit to be rewarded with a crunchy treat.  The funniest part is when I return the jar to the cabinet and say, “All gone.”  Both dogs know perfectly well that the treats are not all gone and both of them stare fixedly at the door then back at me.  I give Scout just about another week before he figures out he can open the door and get the treat jar out.  He’s been inspecting the handle carefully.  And he has great deductive reasoning skills.  I think he would make a great detective.

Scout has also taken on morning pasture patrol, even if the other dogs are otherwise occupied.  He has found the pond, with its muddy edges, and comes back with stinky mud halfway up his pretty white legs.  And so far (everyone knock on wood) he has not dug up anything in the garden.  During the hot part of the day, he and Sophie take up residence inside the house and only leave if an interesting car, truck or 4-wheeler appears.  Scout has just recently realized that he can bark.  Up to now, he has left that to Sophie, who is an expert.  She is especially good at barking at my bedroom window in the pre-dawn hours.  I keep explaining that I don’t care what’s out there as long as it doesn’t try to get in the house.

Bear has a high-pitched bark that pierces the ears, especially when he is asking to come inside.  No one can ignore his demands unless they have earplugs.  He has spent much of the last two or three weeks barking and staring at a tall nandina bush in front of the porch, where some unfortunate finches built a nest and raised a brood.  Once he discovered that there was a nest there, Bear kept a laser focus on it.  He couldn’t reach it and he never caught a bird, but he was determined to try.  Thankfully, the brood fledged successfully and are making a new home in the crabapple tree.  Bear’s obsession with birds at least gives me confidence that I will never be successfully attacked by a crazed flock of robins.

Bear also has a running feud with a lizard who lives under the concrete planter on the porch.  When Bear gives chase, the lizard scurries under the planter and Bear scratches and whines until he is distracted by a bird in the yard.  It keeps him busy.  Sophie watches with disdain. 

Sophie has always had an endearing habit of coming to my side when I am working on my computer and laying her head on my knee for caresses.  This may be why I don’t get as much writing done as I could – I cannot successfully type with one hand.  The other night, I felt a furry presence at my side and a familiar nose on my knee.  When I glanced down, it was not Sophie.  It was Scout.  I guess I will have to give up typing when they are in the house.  Because I am going to need two hands for collie loving.  As a matter of fact, I just noticed a nose on my knee.